Life — December 15, 1921 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Advertisement Analysis This is a **Mimeograph machine advertisement** from A. B. Dick Company, not a political cartoon. The image shows a woman looking at her mirror reflection alongside a mimeograph machine, visually punning on the idea that mimeographed copies are as faithful to originals as mirror reflections. The ad argues the Mimeograph is an economical business tool, capable of producing "five thousand exact duplicates hourly, forty thousand and more a day." It claims the machine saves organizations "hundreds, even thousands, of dollars every month" by duplicating letters, forms, designs, and plans faster and cheaper than alternatives. The ornate decorative border and elegant styling were typical early 20th-century advertising design meant to convey sophistication and trustworthiness to business decision-makers.